The Last Time

Chapter Seven

The next morning- Sunday morning -I woke up late because I didn't have to work until 2. Lei wasn't scheduled to work, so Mom drove me to the diner. When she dropped me off, she assured me she would be there in time to pick me up.

That was not the case. She called two minutes after I got off work and explained she had been called in to work- she was a nurse -and I had to get a ride with Tristan again. I trudged over to his car.

"Need a ride?" he guessed.

"Yeah," I answered. "I would never ask if you didn't live so close to me."

He shrugged, "I don't mind. Come on." He pulled out his phone and hooked it up to the radio. "Are you ready to be introduced to my music?"

I shrugged. "I might like it," I lied.

"I'll start you off with something easy," he hit play and a song started playing.

"Dear mother, I love you. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough.
Dear Father, forgive me. Cause in your eyes I just never added up.
In my heart I know I failed you, but you left me here alone."

"I like this. What is it?" I asked.

"Remember Everything by Five Finger Death Punch," he said. "Let's hear a different song by them." He said with a devious look.

"Oh my God, you're smiling. Kind of," I said and his smile turned up at the corners a little more. "I like it."

Then the next song came on. And screaming started. I looked at Tristan, questioning his sanity. "It's called Burn It Down."

I listened to most of the song before I spoke. "I don't hate it," I said. "I think."

"That's a good start," he said and looked at me. "Keep riding with me and I'll have you head banging before summer ends."

I laughed. "I doubt that, but thanks. Next time I ride with you it will be my turn."

He pulled into my driveway. "Will there be a next time?"

I shrugged, "there might be. If you let me."

"I feel used," he said, looking across the yard.

"I'm not using you. I would consider you a friend but we don't hang out much. Okay, ever," I admitted. But would I consider him my friend? No one would approve- except, of course, my Mom.

He handed me his phone. "Put your number in and I'll text you so you have my number if you ever need me."

I went to his contacts. There were four. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Taylor and Jake. I idly wondered who Taylor and Jake were. I added my contact and handed the phone back.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Maybe," I answered.

Lei called as I walked into my house. "Wanna party? I'll have to come get you like, right now."

"I need to change and stuff," I said.

"Then hurry up!" Click.

I ran upstairs and took off my work clothes. Lei usually took ten to fifteen minutes to get my house, so I rushed to get ready. I slipped into a tube top and another pair of short shorts. I got a text from Lei saying wear a swim suit. I quickly put it on under the clothes and took off my make-up, glad my skin was flawless. I put on foundation and some lip gloss then brushed through my brown hair. I slipped on sandals as a horn honked outside, and I ran down to Lei's car.

"Where are we going exactly?" I asked.

"Dead Man's Creek. Don't give me that look, Aubree! Everyone knows it's not really haunted, okay?"

"But it's so creepy," I complained.

"There will be music and dancing and alcohol. You'll be fine."

I groaned and slouched against the seat. Dead Man's Creek was supposedly haunted, and she was lying- everyone believed it.

She put the car in drive and sped down my road. The trip took all of fifteen minutes. We pulled up to the creek to find cars parked everywhere. I stepped out of Lei's car into the crowd of people.

The night went downhill from there.